# Engineering Plan Review (plan-eng-review)

> Reviews a plan, branch diff or code path as an engineering manager would, covering architecture, code quality, tests and performance in a report.

- Category: [Architecture](https://www.myskills.tools/en/categories/architecture/)
- Source: Community · Garry Tan
- Repository: https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/tree/main/plan-eng-review (commit 8695938 · v1.0.0)
- SKILL.md: https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md
- Install command: `npx skills add garrytan/gstack --skill plan-eng-review`
- License: MIT
- Compatible with: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot
- Permissions: read-repo ✓, write-files ✓, shell ✓, network ✓
- Status: Scan passed
- A rule scan cannot catch every risk. Read this skill's SKILL.md and check its permissions before installing.
- ⚠ By default sends the plan to Codex for an independent review; turn it off with gstack-config set codex_reviews disabled.

## Core rule

Review only: do not build features, acceptance suites or benchmarks unless the user explicitly authorizes it.

## Execution Phases

1. **Pick the target** — Resolve the target first: the branch diff, a plan or design doc, or a specific path; in plan mode the active plan is auto-selected.
2. **Scope challenge** — Find what already solves each part, the minimum change and the complexity count; research built-ins and pitfalls for new patterns and cross-check TODOS.md.
3. **Four review sections** — Evaluate Architecture, Code Quality, Tests and Performance in order, resolving each finding as a decision; no section is skipped.
4. **Outside voice** — After the four sections, an independent second opinion from a different AI system (Codex) runs by default and is synthesized.
5. **Report and gate** — Write the findings to a report file ending in GSTACK REVIEW REPORT and verify it before exiting plan mode.

## Permissions (summarised from SKILL.md)

| Capability | Needed | Details |
|---|---|---|
| File writes | Limited | Writes only the selected report file (the reviewed plan or a separate review file); no implementation edits. |
| Command execution | Limited | Runs gstack helper scripts, git, and bounded probes of current behavior using existing tests. |
| Network outbound | Required | Researches the web through Aside or WebSearch and calls Codex for the default outside voice. |

## SKILL.md frontmatter (YAML)

```yaml
---
name: plan-eng-review
preamble-tier: 3
version: 1.0.0
description: Eng manager-mode plan review. (gstack)
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - AskUserQuestion
  - Bash
  - WebSearch
triggers:
  - review architecture
  - eng plan review
  - check the implementation plan
---
```

Home: https://www.myskills.tools/en/ · URL: https://www.myskills.tools/en/skills/plan-eng-review/